Michael Moran

Annette Badland recalled receiving serious death threats while playing villain Babe Smith in EastEnders. BBC security warned her not to leave home during a six-week investigation, eventually tracing the messages to a public computer at a school near Liverpool, though the sender was not identified. Badland also discussed her fond memories of Danny Dyer and the improvised moments that helped shape Babe's character before the role ended with her dramatic exit from Walford.

BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay became tearful during an interview with The Script singer Danny O’Donoghue about the death of guitarist and lyricist Mark Sheehan in 2023. O’Donoghue discussed Sheehan’s difficult upbringing, their lifelong friendship and the emotional experience of performing “If You Could See Me Now,” a song connected to the loss of their fathers. Kay paused the programme and later said the conversation affected him because of his own close friendships. O’Donoghue also described struggling with heavy drinking and smoking after Sheehan’s death before quitting alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine, attending church and exercising as part of his recovery.

A resurfaced anecdote attributed to former Formula One champion James Hunt claims that Sarah Ferguson’s loud lovemaking with her then-boyfriend Paddy McNally kept Hunt awake during a race weekend. The article recounts Ferguson and McNally’s relationship from 1982 to 1985, her unsuccessful marriage ultimatum, their continued friendship, and McNally’s later support for her. It also describes McNally’s wealth and links to the British royal social circle before Ferguson began dating Prince Andrew.

Elon Musk was challenged by Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes over his claim that civil war in Britain is inevitable, despite having not visited the country for several years. Beddoes argued that his descriptions of Britain as dangerous and overwhelmed by Muslim immigrants are exaggerated and reckless, while Musk defended his view that demographic and ideological tensions will eventually produce conflict. The article also revisits Musk's support for Tommy Robinson's rally, his calls for the dissolution of Parliament, and his admission that he became too involved in politics. It concludes with criticism of his Department of Government Efficiency, which reportedly led to more than 300,000 federal job losses and was condemned by union leader Randy Erwin as wasteful and damaging to public services.

Artificial intelligence software was used to create images imagining how Amy Winehouse might look 15 years after her death, sparking renewed reflection on her enduring musical legacy. The article revisits her career achievements, influence on contemporary artists, and personal struggles, while highlighting praise from critics and fellow musicians. It notes her continuing cultural impact and the work of the Amy Winehouse Foundation in supporting young people.

A woman who had previously testified to support Matthew Terry in a 2017 assault case was murdered by him in 2022 after a jealous outburst. Terry attacked Kay Baker with a carving knife, inflicting fatal wounds similar to those he had inflicted on Michelle Rogers years earlier. Evidence presented during the trial showed his history of violence, self‑inflicted injuries, and attempts to claim self‑defence. Despite initially facing the death penalty, he was sentenced to life imprisonment at the request of Baker’s family.

A family in Lamar, Arkansas reported years of escalating paranormal disturbances after moving into a historic home once used as a stagecoach stop, saloon, and jail. Jaime and Ben Shea described footsteps, voices, apparitions, and a concerning episode involving their son Bridger, which eventually drove them to flee the property. Subsequent tenants also abandoned the house, but financial pressures led the Sheas to return and attempt to coexist with what they described as resident spirits, ultimately adopting a more accepting attitude toward the phenomena.